The seven neck vertebrae are not fused as they are in other whales. Genus, Species - Delphinapterus Leucas The genus name Delphinapterus, means "dolphin without a fin". The species name leucas, means "white". The scientific name for the beluga literally means "white dolphin without a fin". Other common names for the beluga include "white whale" and "belukha". They are also nicknamed "sea canaries" because of their vocalizations. Fossil Record Scientists believe that early whales arose 55 to 60 million years ago from (now extinct) ancient land mammals that ventured back into the sea. Representatives from the modern family Monodontidae first appear in the fossil record 9 to 10 million years ago in the eastern north Pacific. Beluga Names Beluga Names The term "beluga" stems from the Russian word belukha which means "white one". The beluga whale is known by the scientific name of Delphinapterus ("whale without fins") leucas ("white").

It is also referred to as "white whale", "white porpoise" and "white squidhound" because of its color, and "sea canary", because of its lively chatter. To learn more about beluga whales, select from the following: Names Of Whales Books Names Of Whales Overall there are around 90 different species of cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises) currently living in our ocean. Below you will find a lists containing the common, lessor known and scientific names of most of the whale species (including dolphins and porpoises). After reading through the many different names of various whale species you can learn more about their individual characteristics and suborders by scrolling to the bottom of the whale name list.

Baleen Whales Blue whale – Sibbald’s rorqual – Great nothern roqual (Balaenoptera musculus) (This whale is part of the roqual family) Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) Bowhead whale – Greenland right whale (Balaena mysticetus) Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera brydei) (This whale is part of the roqual family) (Named after Johan Byrde) Pygmy Byrde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) Fin whale – Razorback – Finback – Herring whale – Finner (Balaenoptera physalus) (This whale is part of the roqual family) Gray whale – Desert whale – Gray back – Devil fish – California gray whale- Mussell digger – Rip sack – Scrag whale (Eschrichtius robustus) Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Antarctic or southern minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) (This whale is part of the roqual family) Common minke whale (Bala

enoptera acutorostrata) (This whale is part of the roqual family) Dwarf minke whale Omura’s whale (Balaenoptera omurai) Right whale Pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata) North atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) North pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) Sei whale – Pollack whale – Coalfish whale – Rudophi’s whale (Balaenoptera borealis) (This whale is part of the roqual family) Toothed Whales Andrew’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bowdoini) Arnoux’s beaked whale (Berardius arnuxii) Baird’s beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) Blainville’s Beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) Gervais’ beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus) Ginkgo toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens) Gray’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon grayi) Hector’s beaked whale

 (Mesoplodon hectori) Hubb’s Beaked whale (Mesoplodon carlhubbsi) Longman’s beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus) Perrin’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon perrini) Pygmy beaked whale (Mesoplodon peruvianus) Shepherd’s beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) Stejneger’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) Strap-toothed whale (Mesoplodon layardii) True’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus) Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) Southern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon planifrons) Narwhal whale – Unicorn of the sea – (Monodon monoceros) Spade-toothed whale (Mesoplodon traversii) Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) Dolphins Long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) Arabian common dolphin (Delphinus

 tropicalis) Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Indian ocean or indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) Chilean dolphin (Cephalorhynchus eutropia) Commerson’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) Costero dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) Franciscana dolphin (La Plata dolphin) – (Pontoporia blainvillei) Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) Heaviside’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) Hourglass dolphin (Lagenorhynchus cruciger) Atlantic Humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszi) Indian Humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) Pacific Humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) Orca – killer whale – black fish (Orcinus orca) False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata) Melon-headed whale (Peponocephala elect

ra) Peale’s dolphin (Lagenorhynchus australis) Northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) Southern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis peronii) Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) Amazon river dolphin (Boto) – (Inia geoffrensis) Chinese river dolphin (Baiji) – (Lipotes vexillifer) Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) Indus river dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) Australian snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) Porpoises Burmeister’s porpoise (Phocoena spinipinnis) D

all’s porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) Finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) There are currently around 90 known species of cetacea in existence today.

These species are broken down into two suborder known as Baleen Whales and Toothed Whales . Baleen whales in general tend to be much larger than their toothed whale counterparts, however there are much more species of toothed whale than there are in the baleen whale suborder. Part of this is due to the fact that dolphins and porpoises are also a part of the toothed whale suborder. When it comes to the characteristics that separate the two suborders there are several unique characteristics. First, baleen whales are known as filter feeders and are born with baleen plates instead of teeth. These whales feed by swimming through the water with their mouth open engulfing large amounts of food and water. They then expel the water by pushing it out with their tongue while leaving their food trapped inside their baleen bristles. Toothed whales on the other hand have teeth and in some cases will use their teeth to attack, grab and chew their prey. Not all species however are known for chewing their food and some use their teeth primarily for defense or to show dominance. A few toothed whale species may only have a small handful of teeth that appear to be fairly useless when it comes to their survival.

A second major difference between the two species is the use of and reliance on echolocation. Toothed whales are known to use echolocation to help them navigate the ocean and search for prey. The existence of echolocation among the baleen whale suborder seems either very limited or non existent. Recent research indicates that some baleen whales may be able to use echolocation, however it remains unconfirmed at this point. Third, baleen whales are known to possess two blowholes while the toothed whale suborder only possesses one. There are a couple of theories as to why this difference exists with two of the most common theories being that toothed whales have developed one of their blowholes into an echolocation system and the idea that baleen whales need to be able to inhale more air due to their larger size. Aside from these differences there are other characteristics that separate the two suborders however these happen to be some of the most prevalent and well known differentiating features.

Search Delphinapterus leucas (Beluga, White Whale) Delphinapterus leucas Dauphin blanc, Bélouga, Delphinaptère blanc, Marsouin blanc Spanish – Ballena Blanca Taxonomic Notes: Specimens that appear to be hybrids between Narwhals and Belugas have been described from nature (Heide-Jørgensen and Reeves 1993). An alternative common name is White Whale. 2008-07-01 Assessor(s): Jefferson, T.A., Karkzmarski, L., Laidre, K., O’Corry-Crowe, G., Reeves, R., Rojas-Bracho, L., Secchi, E., Slooten, E., Smith, B.D., Wang, J.Y. & Zhou, K. Reviewer(s): Brownell Jr., R.L. & Cooke, J. Justification: At the global level the species does not qualify for a threatened status under any of the criteria although there is substantial uncertainty about numbers and trends for at least some large parts of the range, especially in the Russian Arctic.

Given that uncertainty, and the fact that cessation of national and international, taxon-specific conservation programs that currently monitor and manage hunting could result in the Beluga’s qualifying for threatened status (under criterion A3) within five years, the species should be listed as Near Threatened. The Beluga whale is unquestionably a conservation-dependent species. The species was assessed previously (1996) as Vulnerable (VU A1abd). The main reason for the change to Near Threatened is that the decline criterion for Vulnerable is not met for some of the largest subpopulations, and they have a disproportionate effect on the assessment of the species as a whole. Also, estimates of current population size for several of the larger stocks are substantially higher than previous estimates (due to better survey methods and not necessarily because of increases in numbers). Across the global range of Belugas, subpopulations are subject to differing levels of threat and warrant individual assessment. Some subpopulations clearly qualify for threatened status and only one of these – the Cook Inlet subpopulation – has been assessed thus far (as CR) (Lowry et al. 2006). Those other potentially threatened subpopulations (e.g. West Greenland, eastern Hudson Bay, St.

Lawrence River, Ungava Bay) that are well-defined and well-studied should be assessed separately as soon as feasible. Previously published Red List assessments: 2008 – Near Threatened (NT) Geographic Range [top] Range Description: Beluga whales are distributed in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere from the west coast of Greenland westwards to Svalbard (Stewart and Stewart 1989; O'Corry-Crowe 2002). Records from the Sea of Japan and Baltic Sea are considered extralimital, but resident populations occur in cold temperate latitudes in Cook Inlet (Alaska, US) and the St. Lawrence River system (Canada). Satellite telemetry, genetic studies, and organochlorine analyses show belugas have strong matrilineally driven seasonal site fidelity to fjords and estuaries for summering and they migrate to separate wintering grounds (O’Corry-Crowe et al. 1997, Richard et al. 2001, de March et al. 2002, Innes et al. 2002, O’Corry-Crowe et al.

2002, Palsbøll et al. 2002). The map shows where the species may occur based on oceanography. The species has not been recorded for all the states within the hypothetical range as shown on the map. States for which confirmed records of the species exist are included in the list of native range states. Countries occurrence: Population [top] Population: The global population consists of numerous subpopulations with varying degrees of differentiation (hereafter the terms subpopulation and stock are used interchangeably). The International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee (IWC 2000) organized information on belugas on the basis of 29 provisional management stocks. Some of the stock boundaries overlap spatially and seasonally, complicating assessment. Many of the subpopulations or stocks maintain distinct or contiguous geographical ranges during the summer months but mix during the spring and autumn migrations and share common wintering quarters. While good abundance estimates are available for some Beluga subpopulations/stocks, the sizes of others are virtually unknown. Total numbers worldwide are well above 150,000 animals, with many portions of the range unsurveyed.

The following estimates for subpopulations/stocks or regions range from relatively precise abundance estimates to rough approximations of numbers in the late 1990s or early 2000s: Alaska Cook Inlet: The number of Beluga whales in Cook Inlet is estimated from counts by aerial observers and aerial video group counts (Hobbs et al. 2000b; Lowry et al. 2006). The most recent published estimate at the time of the present assessment (May 2008) was 302 (CV=0.16) in 2006 (Angliss and Outlaw 2007). In addition, the National Marine Fisheries Service had indicated via a web posting that the point estimate from the 2007 aerial survey was 375. Bristol Bay: Most recently (1994), the number of Beluga whales in Bristol Bay was estimated at 1,555 (Lowry and Frost 1999).

This estimate was based on a maximum count of 503 animals, which was corrected using radio-telemetry data for the proportion of animals that were diving (Lowry and Frost 1999) and for the proportion of newborns and yearlings not observed due to their small size and colouration. Surveys in 1999 and 2000 resulted in maximum counts of 690 and 531, which can be extrapolated to population estimates of 2,133 and 1,642, respectively (L. Lowry, University of Alaska Fairbanks pers. comm. to K. Laidre, 1/07). Eastern Bering Sea: Aerial surveys of Norton Sound, the summering site for the eastern Bering Sea stock, were conducted in 2000. Preliminary analyses produced an uncorrected estimate of 5,868 animals; when corrected for animals not visible at the surface and for newborn and yearling animals not observed due to their small size and dark coloration, the estimated population size for Norton Sound is 18,142 (CV=0.24) (R.

Hobbs, AFSC-NMML pers. comm. 01/07; Angliss and Outlaw 2005). Eastern Chukchi Sea: Frost et al. (1993) estimated the minimum size of the eastern Chukchi stock of belugas at 1,200, based on counts of animals from aerial surveys conducted during 1989-91. The total corrected abundance estimate for the eastern Chukchi stock is 3,710. Shared Alaska/Canada Eastern Beaufort Sea/Beaufort Sea: The most recent aerial survey, conducted in July 1992, resulted in an uncorrected estimate of 19,629 (CV=0.229) (Harwood et al. 1996). The corrected population estimate was 39,258 animals (Angliss and Outlaw 2005). Canada Cumberland Sound: This stock numbers about 1,500 animals and is thought to have increased since the 1980s (COSEWIC 2004) Ungava Bay: The Ungava Bay stock is too small to estimate.

Hammill et al. (2004) recently estimated it at <50 animals; none were seen on a survey conducted in 2001. West Hudson Bay: There are estimated to be more than 23,000 Belugas in western Hudson Bay and more than 1,300 along the southern Hudson Bay coast (Richard 1991). East Hudson Bay: Belugas in Eastern Hudson Bay have declined from 4,200 (SE 300) in 1985 to 3,100 (SE 800) in 2004 (corrected estimates) (Hammill et al. 2005). St Lawrence River: The St. Lawrence subpopulation is estimated to be in the order of 900–1,000 individuals. There is no evidence of a significant trend in abundance since 1988 (COSEWIC 2004).

Eastern High Arctic/Baffin Bay: A survey in 1996 estimated 21,213 Belugas (95% CI 10,985 to 32,619) in the waters surrounding Somerset Island: Barrow Strait, Peel Sound and Prince Regent Inlet (Innes et al. 2002). This estimate takes into account both whales missed by observers and those that might have been unavailable for detection due to diving behaviour. It includes whales that move to West Greenland during the winter. Shared Canada/Greenland West Greenland: Aerial surveys flown in late winter in West Greenland between 1981 and 1994 found that Beluga numbers had decreased by 62% during that period, probably because of over-harvesting (Heide-Jørgensen and Reeves 1996).

Further surveys in 1998 and 1999 confirmed the decline and found 7,941 (95% CI: 3650-17278) belugas in West Greenland, including whales missed by the observers and whales that were submerged during the survey (Heide-Jørgensen and Acquarone 2002). Heide-Jørgensen et al. (2003) estimate that approximately 30% of the Eastern Canadian high Arctic/Baffin Bay beluga stock migrates to West Greenland for overwintering. Svalbard Belugas have never been surveyed around Svalbard. Pods numbering into the thousands are sighted irregularly around the archipelago, and pods ranging from a few to a few hundred individuals are seen regularly (Gjertz and Wiig 1994, Kovacs and Lydersen 2006). Russia Eastern and Central Russian Arctic: There are no rigorous abundance estimates for the Eastern and Central Russian Arctic (Boltunov and Belikov 2002).

Rough estimates of a few thousand in Anadyr Gulf and a few thousand in the western Chukchi and eastern East Siberian Seas were summarized in a table compiled by the IWC Scientific Committee (IWC 2000). In addition to those animals, belugas from Alaskan stocks (e.g. eastern Bering Sea, eastern Chukchi Sea, and Beaufort Sea stocks) move into eastern Russian waters during the winter. The IWC table mentioned above (IWC, 2000) indicates a rough estimate of 18,000–20,000 in the Okhotsk Sea. Western Russian Arctic: Belugas in the Western Russian Arctic occupy four major areas: (1) southern Barents and White seas, (2) southern Barents and Kara seas, (3) coastal waters of the Kara Sea, and (4) western portion of the Laptev Sea. They may share wintering grounds to some extent. Surveys have not yet been conducted in the Barents and Kara seas and the number of Belugas inhabiting these regions is unknown.

The White Sea hosts a resident population of belugas numbering about 1,000 over-wintering individuals. In summer, this number is augmented by animals from the Barents Sea. Current Population Trend: Habitat and Ecology [top] Habitat and Ecology: Belugas are relatively well-studied as a result of carcass sampling in association with hunting, along with a considerable amount of satellite-linked radio-tracking (Richard et al. 1998a,b; Richard et al. 2001; Lydersen et al. 2001; Heide-Jørgensen et al. 2003a; Hobbs et al. 2005). Belugas occur seasonally (mainly in summer) in coastal waters as shallow as 1–3 m deep but also in deep offshore waters (800 m). They typically enter estuaries and sometimes move upstream into rivers; there are records of individuals or small groups ranging hundreds of kilometers from the sea. They occupy estuaries, continental shelf and slope waters, and deep ocean basins in conditions of open water, loose ice, and heavy pack ice.

Belugas generally prefer to overwinter in shallow or coastal areas, usually with light or highly moveable ice cover (Barber et al. 2001, Richard et al. 2001, Suydam et al. 2001, Heide-Jørgensen et al. 2003a) and may occur as fully Arctic populations (Richard et al. 1998b, Richard et al. 2001, Suydam et al. 2001) or sub-Arctic populations (Hobbs et al. 2005). Some Belugas undertake large-scale annual migrations between summering and wintering sites, while others remain in the same area year-round, shifting offshore only when excluded from coastal habitat by fast-ice formation (Hobbs et al. 2005). Large numbers of migratory Belugas occur along the northwestern and northern Alaskan coast, in the Canadian high Arctic, and in western Hudson Bay. At certain times of the year, those whales migrate thousands of kilometers, in some cases as far as 80oN into dense pack ice (Suydam et al.

2001) or thousands of kilometers into the North Water polynya or to the pack ice off West Greenland (Richard et al. 1998a,b; Richard et al. 2001; Heide-Jørgensen et al. 2003a). Non-migratory belugas that generally make seasonal shifts in distribution of less than a few hundred kilometers are found in Cook Inlet, Cumberland Sound, Svalbard, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Lydersen et al. 2001; Kingsley 2002; Hobbs et al. 2005). While the general features of Beluga whale habitat can be described for the relatively well-studied populations, the importance of those features is not well understood (Laidre et al. in press). For example, the summer occupation of nearshore/estuarine waters has been ascribed alternatively to feeding (Seaman et al. 1982), to warm water providing a thermal advantage to neonates (Sergeant and Brodie 1969), and to the presence of fresh water and coarse substrates facilitating skin shedding during molt (St. Aubin et al.

1990, Frost et al. 1993). The relative importance of each of those factors likely varies based on the environmental conditions (e.g., water temperatures and prey availability) specific to each of the summering areas (Frost and Lowry 1990a). Similarly, it is unclear why belugas sometimes move into deep, ice-covered waters. One potential reason would be to avoid Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) predation (Frost et al. 1992). However, the movements into the ice appear excessive for what would be needed to avoid killer whales (Suydam et al. 2001) and actually could expose belugas to predation by Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) (Lowry et al. 1987a) as well as increase the risk of entrapment in the ice. It is possible belugas move into ice-covered offshore regions for feeding, primarily on Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida), but few data are available to test this hypothesis.

Similarly, the associations of belugas with features such as the continental shelf break (Moore 2000) may be related to oceanographic processes that produce good feeding conditions (Laidre et al. in press). Dives may last up to 25 min. and can reach depths of 800 m. The Beluga has a diverse diet, which varies greatly from area to area. Although various species of fish are considered to be the primary prey items (including salmon, herring, and Arctic Cod), Belugas also feed on a wide variety of molluscs (such as squid and octopus) and benthic crustaceans (shrimps and crabs). Polar Bears and Killer Whales are known predators of belugas throughout their Arctic range (Frost et al. 1992). Systems: Use and Trade [top] Use and Trade: It is hunted for food in several parts of its range, and animals are taken for captive display in Russia. Threats [top] Major Threat(s): Hunting for human consumption is the biggest known threat to belugas across certain portions of their range.

The most immediate concerns relate to continuing harvests from small and depleted subpopulations (IWC 2000). The strong philopatry of belugas, which causes them to return to the same estuaries year after year, makes them highly vulnerable to overexploitation. This behavioural trait is undoubtedly the most important natural factor that has led to the extirpation of Belugas from some parts of their range by a combination of commercial and subsistence hunting (e.g. in southwestern Greenland and some river mouths in Ungava Bay, Canada). Known or potential threats include a variety of human activities in addition to hunting: oil and gas development, expansion of fisheries (with possible implications for bycatch and resource depletion), hydroelectric development (in Hudson Bay), and industrial and urban pollution. Climate change will likely increase the scale and distribution of these activities. Hydroelectric development may affect belugas because of their dependence on estuarine conditions. Areas such as the McKenzie Delta and West Greenland are subject to oil exploration, which often includes seismic surveys, offshore drilling, and artificial island construction. These activities are undertaken in the summer months in the same areas occupied by belugas at this time of year.

In a study of responses of belugas to ice-breaking ships, the Belugas typically moved rapidly along ice edges away from approaching ships and showed strong avoidance reactions to approaching ships at distances of 35–50 km (Finley et al. 1990). Climate change is another potential threat. Belugas may experience climate-induced geographic shifts or altered reproductive success due to persistent changes in extent of sea ice (Tynan and DeMaster, 1997, Laidre et al in press). Belugas are also susceptible to savssats or ice entrapments when sea ice conditions change rapidly. Threats from contaminants are of concern in some areas. Studies of the small, geographically isolated subpopulation in the St. Lawrence River have found that concentrations of both total PCBs and chlorinated PCB congeners are much higher in these belugas than in Arctic belugas. Some scientists believe that the increased occurrence of opportunistic bacterial infections, parasitic infestation, gastric ulcers and other disorders in St. Lawrence belugas is evidence of a link between immune system dysfunction and PCB exposure (Martineau et al., 1994).

To summarize, in some parts of the species’ range, particularly in Canada and Greenland, intensive hunting represents an ongoing major threat, and in a few instances this is compounded by the less direct and less easily quantified threats (realized and potential) of disturbance by vessel traffic (e.g. St. Lawrence estuary, river mouths in eastern Hudson Bay), habitat modification (e.g. large hydroelectric dams in rivers flowing into Hudson Bay and James Bay), contaminants (e.g. St. Lawrence estuary), climate change (including secondary effects from opening of Arctic and sub-Arctic waters to year-round ship traffic, oil an gas development, commercial fishing), and possibly incidental catch in fisheries (e.g. St. Lawrence estuary). Conservation Actions [top] Conservation Actions: Although the Beluga was hunted intensively on a commercial basis in many parts of its range during the 20th century, the only known direct removals at present are for food (subsistence use) and the aquarium trade (there is a limited live-capture fishery in Russia).

A regional management body, the Joint Committee on Narwhal and Beluga/North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (JCNB/NAMMCO), exists in Canada and Greenland with the expectation that it will ensure the conservation of Belugas. This body sets or recommends catch limits for Beluga populations within member countries. Catch levels from subpopulations range anywhere from <10 to a few hundred animals per year. Removals from some subpopulations/stocks are considered sustainable, however, there is concern and evidence that removals from other subpopulations/stocks are not (e.g. Eastern Hudson Bay and West Greenland) (Alvarez and Heide-Jørgensen 2004, COSEWIC 2004, NAMMCO/JCNB 2005). It is listed on CITES Appendix II. Citation: Jefferson, T.A., Karkzmarski, L., Laidre, K., O’Corry-Crowe, G., Reeves, R., Rojas-Bracho, L., Secchi, E., Slooten, E., Smith, B.D., Wang, J.Y. & Zhou, K. 2012.

Delphinapterus leucas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T6335A17690692. . Downloaded on 18 January 2017. Disclaimer: Whale | Species | WWF Species few as 300 North Atlantic right whales remain; other species vary: 10,000-90,000 b Scientific Name Balaenoptera, Balaena, Eschrichtius, and Eubalaen d Weight e Habitats Oceans Whales roam throughout all of the world’s oceans, communicating with complex and mysterious sounds. Their sheer size amazes us: the blue whale can reach lengths of more than 100 feet and weigh up to 200 tons—as much as 33 elephants. Despite living in the water, whales breathe air. And like humans, they are warm-blooded mammals who nurse their young. A thick layer of fat called blubber insulates them from cold ocean waters. Some whales are known as baleen whales including blue, right, bowhead, sei and gray whales.

This refers to the fact that they have special bristle-like structures in their mouths (called baleen) that strains food from the water. Other whales, such as beluga or sperm whales, have teeth. US permanently protects some of the Arctic's most important marine areas Just one week after scientists warned of unprecedented change brought on by warming in the Arctic, President Obama announced permanent protection for 115 million acres of federal waters in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Including previous presidential withdrawals, today's action protects nearly 125 million acres in the offshore Arctic from future oil and gas activity. Beluga Why They Matter Whales are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. Unfortunately their large size and mythical aura does not protect them; six out of the 13 great whale species are classified as endangered, even after decades of protection.

Threats Population few as 300 North Atlantic right whales remain; other species vary: 10,000-90,000 Extinction Risk Endangered No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died EW Known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population CR Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the Wild EN Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild VU Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild NT Likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future LC Does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened "Scientific" Whaling Although the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling does contain a provision that allows killing of whales for scientific purposes, it was written more than 50 years ago, at a time when no alternatives existed. Now there are non-lethal techniques that provide the data required for management much more efficiently and accurately. For decades, Japan has been conducting “scientific” whaling operations in the Southern Ocean—a critical feeding area for whales where commercial whaling is forbidden.

In May 2010, the Australian government requested the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to order Japan to cease its whaling practices in the Southern Ocean. In March 2014, the ICJ finally ruled that Japan must stop such activities (and Japan announced they will abide)—a true conservation win for whales. Industry Collisions with ships, entanglement in fishing gear (known as bycatch), and pollution injure and kill whales. Shipping activity and oil and gas development cause noise that can disrupt or even damage whales’ hearing. Such disturbance can exclude whales from critical feeding and breeding grounds, and disrupt their migratory paths. Commercial Whaling Despite a moratorium on commercial whaling and a ban on international trade of whale products, countries such as Iceland continue to hunt whales for their markets. Over 1000 whales a year are killed for such commercial purposes. The U.S. and other International Whaling Commission (IWC) member countries have tried for years to persuade Iceland to end its commercial whaling—which includes hunting of the endangered fin whale—as it undermines the effectiveness of IWC’s commercial whaling ban. In 2011, after pressure from WWF and others, the U.S.

government officially declared Iceland in defiance of the IWC ban. Although no sanctions were implemented, the President urged Iceland to cease its commercial whaling activities. In 2013, Iceland resumed its fin whale hunt. Climate Change Warming oceans and loss of sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic can affect the habitats and food of whales. Large patches of tiny plants and animals that they feed on will likely move or change in abundance as climate change alters seawater temperature, winds and ocean currents. These changes can mean whales such as humpbacks and blues may have to migrate much further to reach feeding grounds, leaving them with less time to forage for food. The shift in food availability due to climate fluctuations has already hurt the reproductive rates of the endangered North Atlantic right whale. What WWF Is Doing WWF documents and protects critical feeding and breeding areas and migration routes of whales. We work to establish whale sanctuaries, help shift shipping lanes and curtail seismic surveys that disrupt feeding grounds. We strive to increase awareness of the need for whale conservation at national, regional and international levels. We also create opportunities for local communities to be involved with and profit from whale conservation initiatives.

International Whaling Commission WWF lobbies to bring “scientific” (hunting whales for research) and commercial whale hunts under the strict control of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The IWC is the body charged with regulating whaling and addressing the vast number of other threats to whales, dolphins and porpoises in our oceans such as shipping, climate change, and bycatch. WWF is working to make the IWC more effective in reducing all threats to whales. Saving Stranded Whales Each year, thousands of whales, dolphins and porpoises become stranded on shorelines around the world. Left unaided, many die within a day or two. In the Philippines, about a dozen stranding events occur a year. WWF offers stranding rescue workshops to local residents. Training includes cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) biology, identification, threats, and conservation and rescue techniques. Since 1997, WWF has been collaborating with leading Filipino marine mammal scientists to conduct training programs. Such training not only helps ensure the safety of stranded whales and dolphins, it also increases people’s appreciation for the animals and cultivates environmental stewardship.

Question: What is another, non scientific, name for the white whale?
Answer: BELUGA